Humid tobacco box



May 7, 1968 I. MERI 3,382,020

HUMID TOBACCO BOX Filed May 16, 1967 /4 MA"? ME/P/ United States Patent 3,382,020 HUMID TOBACCO BOX Ilmar Meri, 63 Brainard Ave., Port Monmouth, NJ. 07758 Filed May 16, 1967, Ser. No. 638,962 4 Claims. (Cl. 3l2--31.01)

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A humidor for cigars and cigarettes as well as pipe tobacco, the humidor comprising a box within which water from a soaked sponge evaporates within a lower compartment, through openings in the bottom of an upper compartment containing the tobacco products, the sponge being incorporated into an electric circuit having indication means to inform a person when the sponge has run dry.

This invention relates generally to humidors for tobacco.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a humidor for cigars, cigarettes and pipe tobacco which comprises an upper compartment for containing the tobacco articles and having a lower compartment containing a water soaked sponge, the bottom wall of the upper compartment having openings to allow evaporation of the water from the sponge to enter the upper compartment and keep the tobacco in a humid condition.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a humid tobacco box which employs the visual means for indicating when water from the sponge has evaporated and thus needing replacement of water.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a humid tobacco box wherein a plurality of neon light bulbs are employed to visually indicate the depletion of water from the sponge.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a humid tobacco box wherein the sponge acts as a variable resistor within an electrical circuit to the neon light bulbs, and wherein as the water evaporates, the resistance increases and the firing interval of frequency of the neon light bulb decrease.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a humid tobacco box which is simple in design, inexpensive to manufacture, rugged in construction, easy to use and eflicient in operation.

These and other objects will be readily evident upon a study of the following specification and the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the present inven tion shown with the lid thereof in an open position;

FIGURE 2 is a diagramatic cross-sectional view thereof showing the electrical circuit between the sponge and neon lamps;

FIGURE 3 is an electrical circuit of the present inven tion.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, the reference numeral represents a humid tobacco box, according to the present invention, wherein there is a housing 11 having an upper compartment 12 for containing cigars, cigarettes and pipe tobacco, the upper compartment 12 having an upwardly hinged cover 13 to provide access thereto. Below the uppeer compartment 12 there is a lower compartment 14 within which there is contained a sponge 3,382,020 Patented May 7, 1968 Ice 15 having the usual characteristics of being able to support water saturated therein. A bottom wall 16 of the upper compartment 12 is provided with a plurality of relatively small openings 17 therethrough to permit evaporated Water from the sponge to pass upwardly into the compartment 12 where it will keep the cigars, cigarettes or pipe tobacco in a moist condition.

The sponge 15 is an electrical circuit 18 that is elec trically connected to a power source and to a plurality of neon lamps 19 which protrude upwardly from a pair of top walls 20 adjacent each side of the hingeable cover 13. As is shown in FIGURE 3 of the drawing, the power source may comprise a battery 21 which is also contained Within the housing, preferably in the relatively large areas immediately below the top walls 20, wherein there is sulficient space for a battery to be housed. Alternately, if preferred, an extension cord may extend from the housing to an external power source. In the present construction, the water soaked sponge comprises an electrical conductor to complete a circuit between the battery 21 and the neon lamps 19. However, when the sponge is dry, the lack of water prevents the completion of an electrical circuit. Accordingly this feature is employed in the present invention to provide a visual indicator to inform a person when the sponge is in need of replacement of Water.

In operative use, the sponge is soaked with water and the top compartment 12 is loaded with tobacco articles which are intended to be kept in a moist condition. While there is water contained Within the sponge the circuit is completed so as to provide power from the battery 21 which may comprise one or more dry cell batteries, the power being provided to light the lamps, thus indicating to the person that humidity is being provided for the tobacco. When the lamps go out, the person is aware that the tobacco is receiving no more evaporated water and is accordingly subject to drying up. Accordingly a person may then replenish water to the sponge.

While various changes may be made to the detailed construction it is understood that such changes will be within the spirit and scope of the present invention as is defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a humid tobacco box, the combination of a housing, said housing having an upper compartment for containing cigars, cigarettes and pipe tobacco, said compartment having an upwardly hingeable cover to provide access into said compartment, and said compartment having means for providing a continuous evaporation of Water, so as to keep the tobacco products within said compartment in a humid condition, said means comprising a plurality of openings in a bottom wall of said upper compartment, said openings in said bottom wall communicating with a lower compartment, said lower compartment having a sponge therewithin, and said sponge being filled with moisturing means for completing an electrical circuit which provides visual indication to a person when the evaporation of water into said upper compartment has ceased, thereby informing said person to correct the condition.

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said sponge is within an electrical circuit between a plurality of neon bulbs or lamps, said neon lamps being visually mounted upon said box, and said circuit communicating with a power source comprising a dry cell battery con tained within said housing.

3 4 3. The combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein h References Cited said sponge is soaked with water so as to form a circuit UNITED STATES PATENTS to conduct electrical energy and close said circuit between 3 541 2/1905 Raisler 312 31 1 d d d 1 l r a Sal power Source an Sal neon amps 1,857,181 5/1932 C lli 312 1 4. The combination as set forth in claim 3 wherein 5 said sponge comprises a variable resistor wherein as said I water evaporates the resistance increases and the firing BOBBY Examme" interval of frequency of the neon lamps decreases. J. L. KOHNEN, Assistant Examiner. 

